THE END IS NIGH
THE LOW COUNTRIES – AUTUMN 1944
In the early part of September Monty started planning a complex operation designed to leap frog forward and to establish a bridgehead over the Rhine. It was to involve the British 2nd Army, with three divisions of General Browning’s 1 Airborne Corps with the 82nd US Airborne Division under command. Before joining in the Canadian 1st Army would concentrate on opening up the port of Antwerp.
D-Day for Operation Market Garden was on 17th September. That morning vast fleets of aircraft and gliders converged on their landing areas close to the Arnhem bridge meeting light opposition. However, two days later the weather was so bad that the air lift programme had to be halted and our tactical fighters could not provide support. These factors were to have a serious effect on the whole operation.
Sadly, on the night of 25th September 2,400 men, including some of the Polish Parachute Brigade, had to be evacuated across the lower Rhine and Arnhem was lost to us, as was Nijmegen which was still in German hands. In his book From Normandy to the Baltic Monty claims that the battle of Arnhem was ninety per cent successful. On the ground we thought otherwise. It seemed a sad end to an ill-conceived and ill-fated operation. It should be noted that we in 84 Group were not included in its planning. Had we been, we would have had the necessary ‘crystals’ in our radio sets to communicate with our ground forces during the first few days and to give direct support to them.
20th September
Mac got back today and told me I could take a day off. Unfortunately, it’s impossible this week, as you will have probably gathered from the news (Operation Market Garden/Arnhem), but I hope to get away next Monday or Tuesday. I’ll probably be able to bring back the odd pair of stockings.
It’s been a tiring day. I held a conference at 8 this morning, AOCs conference at 9. Army conference at 10, a quick lunch, tea in my office, conf at 5.30, half an hour for dinner and it’s now well after midnight.
22nd September
Flew to Brussels yesterday afternoon and had to stay the night because I had been delayed. It’s just like peacetime there – but terrifically expensive. I went out with Tom Morgan, Derrick Walker and Killy. But believe it or not I was so tired I left them and went to sleep.
On 22nd September Boulogne had fallen to the Canadians after the last strongpoint received a final ‘rocketing’ from our Typhoons. Cap Gris Nez and Calais soon followed. In the south the Americans, after a spectacular outflanking drive, reached the German border. Le Havre finally fell, brought to its knees by a mass Lancaster raid, and Ghent was captured by the Polish Armoured Division (within the Canadian 1st Army). Hence, in late September our group HQ was able to move in their wake to Ghent. From Amblie in France, 84 Group HQ, alongside that of HQ Canadian 1st Army, moved three times in six weeks before setting up shop in Ghent in late September.
I liked Ghent. The people were friendly and occasionally we were invited out by them. The Polish wing based on the local airfield was commanded by a great friend from Northolt days Group Captain Alek Gabszewicz. There was a story that the wing was accompanied by a lorry load of women. I didn’t investigate – but think it was probably true!
For 84 Group the early days of October were mainly occupied with operations against the coastal batteries at Breskens in support of the troops storming the island of Walcheren. The docks had been captured almost intact and the battle was on to clear the estuary for shipping. It was during this period, on Friday 13th October, that His Majesty the King, accompanied by Field Marshal Montgomery and Air Marshal Coningham visited 35 and 146 Wings at Antwerp-Deurne. I made a brief presentation about our operations during this visit.
15th October
Received Cecil Beaton’s book from you today. It is very good isn’t it? I had forgotten all about my birthday [13th October] until I was in a room with various people including Monty and Mary. Mary turned round to me, seeing the date up on the wall, and said Friday 13th looks ominous. And only then did I realise it was my birthday!
On 20th October the 84 Group squadrons attacked the HQ of the German 15th Army at Dordrecht and caused huge loss of life including seventeen officers of senior rank – two of them generals.
That autumn it rained almost non-stop for weeks on end considerably interfering with operations and often preventing the RAF from flying from sodden airfields. The inability of many in the army to understand how much the RAF was contributing to their support caused frequent friction, especially in pubs.
One Sunday morning when the low cloud again made flying impossible, three wing commanders and I went out to a pub in Ghent called the Falstaff. Deacon Elliot was one of my HQ chaps whilst Al Deere and Johnnie Baldwin were planners in the GCC which at the time was also based in Ghent. Almost as soon as we arrived an army major came up to me saying, “Where is the bloody RAF?”It was pretty clear that he had been drinking so I said, “If you keep quiet I’ll tell you where the RAF is and what it’s doing.”He didn’t listen and his ranting continued until Deacon intervened saying, “Go away, you’re annoying my group captain”. Away he went but soon returned and continued to harass me. Deacon once more told him to go away and his response was to throw a punch at Deacon. Then the fight started. It was the army versus the RAF. The two barmen hid behind the counter as bottles on the back of the bar were broken. Al Deere, once a champion RAF boxer, was in his element and Johnnie Baldwin, who, as an airman waiting for flying training, had once knocked a corporal flat on the parade ground at Uxbridge, dealt with the rest. Deacon saw the major off. It was just like a scene from a Wild West film. Despite my concern that it had happened, it was a Sunday that I always remember with some pleasure.
30th October
Fifteen minutes to go before the 5.30 p.m. conference. Got a letter from you yesterday my sweet in which you mentioned place names – two big bangs just happened (naughty Huns). You were quite right but don’t bother to mention them in future as security might accuse me of telling you. The army has been doing quite well the last few days. Makes all the difference in the world when things become fluid and positions on the maps are constantly being changed.
Breskens had fallen on 22nd October but the Hun, well aware of what was at stake at Walcheren, clung on doggedly to their positions. Finally, after a week of murderous fighting, which included the last great amphibious operation of the war in Europe by British commandos and Canadian troops, the Walcheren garrison surrendered on 8th November and we moved our group HQ from Ghent to Antwerp. Even then, until the approaches to the port were cleared of mines we remained short of essential supplies.
During my time at Antwerp V1s and V2s fell on the city every day and the task of depriving the enemy of his V2 supply routes became a priority for our wings as London was also being targeted. At this time the enemy had established his front line on the River Maas beyond which he showed every intention of staying put.
After a short stay in Antwerp, the group HQ moved to Breda in Holland, where I stayed with a most charming woman, Madame Hoedkop, a friend of Queen Wilhelmina. When I had a few days leave that November I took a letter from her to London addressed to Queen Wil-helmina, care of the Netherlands government in exile. I was given a very warm welcome by them and was told to tell Madame Hoedkop that they would get the letter to Her Majesty as soon as possible. Queen Wilhelmina had left Holland in May 1940 for England and eventually Canada. I returned to Breda with the message and a present for Madame Hoedkop of 2lbs of coffee beans which my mother-in-law had managed to inveigle from her regular coffee supplier. During the occupation of Holland real coffee was unobtainable and they had to make do with ersatz made from acorns. Madame Hoedkop was so delighted that she gave me an old piece of Delft – a teapot. This I looked after carefully for some months until I could deliver it to Het. Sadly, in 1961 it was stolen.
November ended with the Canadians struggling eastward in line with the Maas. We continued to support them by carrying out continuous low level operations called down by the forward controllers.
In early December, the group HQ moved again from Breda to a school a few miles away in Tilburg, with our GCC based at Turnhout.
9th December
I hope to have some silk stockings for you by Christmas. One of the chaps is going down to Paris this week. I hope he can get some reasonable ones. On Wednesday night I went to a performance of ‘Blithe Spirit’ with the army commander and the AOC. Dorothy Edwards was in the cast. She had seen Challoner two or three days previously at Tilburg. On Thursday I had dinner with Loel Guinness (the MP relief for Sailor Malan), Bill Compton and a merchant captain on board his ship at Antwerp.
On 17th December after days of rain the Germans, supported in strength by what remained of the Luftwaffe, began a bold but desperate major counter-offensive along the American front in the Ardennes. Their object was to drive a wedge between the American and British forces and strike at Antwerp, our main supply base. Another of Hitler’s fatal mistakes was about to be made – Von Runstedt was told to make a bid for an eleventh-hour victory.
22nd December
I wonder what you have thought and what you are still thinking about the turn of events out here. We are not unduly perturbed as if the cream of the German army can be defeated west of the Rhine our final task will become even more simple and can take place much sooner.
25th December
Thought of you all day today. Working fairly hard yesterday, but managed to get away after supper and had a most enjoyable party with the AOC at one of the wings. Have got six pairs of silk stockings for you, I’m told they are quite good. Cost £2 per pair.
For some days bad weather prevented us from giving air support to our troops as our squadrons were grounded, but on 27th December the weather improved enough for us to make a few perilous sorties which were in general frustrated by an impenetrable layer of mist and low cloud. This was not as much support as we would have liked to have given. However, on the 29th our Tempests destroyed sixteen enemy aircraft in air combat over the battle area. The American army fought magnificently in ice and snow and before the end of the year the tide had turned, in no small measure due to the refusal of the garrison commander at Bastogne, General Macaulay, to surrender. This operation resulted in German losses of 120,000 men, 600 tanks and assault guns, and their retreat to the ‘West Wall’.
Von Runstedt’s failed offensive was followed on the morning of 1st January by widespread attacks on our airfields by German fighters. These occurred at a time when most of our squadrons were grounded by ice-bound runways and mist. Only the Polish 131 Wing at Ghent was able to intercept this raid, claiming to have destroyed twenty enemy aircraft in the ensuing combats. Overall, these raids caused little damage and of the eighty-plus Typhoons at Deurne only one was destroyed.
I remember these raids well as a few days earlier I had received an invitation from a family I had met in Ghent to spend New Year’s Eve with them. On 31st December I drove from Tilburg, where we had our HQ, to Ghent, drank and dined, probably to excess, and left early the next morning on New Year’s Day. On my way back I decided to call on Denys Gillam and his Typhoon wing at Deurne. When I got there he was still in bed in his caravan, but his batman was around and brought us coffee. Suddenly all hell let loose. We were out of that caravan in a flash with Dennis, ahead of me, jumping into a slit trench. I jumped in on top of him from which position I heard, but did not see the enemy attack. A great pity, as we had not seen attacking German fighters for weeks.
One morning in late January, I was surprised to get a phone call from occupied Holland. The caller told me that the records of several hundred young men were kept in a particular house in The Hague and unless the records were destroyed within three days these men would be sent to a forced labour camp in Germany. He gave me details of the position of the house and then pressed me to have it destroyed. I told him to contact me later that day.
I discussed this with Zulu Morris, the new SASO who had just taken over from McEvoy. As the house was in a terrace and damage would inevitably be caused to the houses on either side, we decided to say no. But we changed our minds on receiving a later call informing us that two men with lights or signals of some sort would be on the roof of the house to give its exact position. Clearly, the Dutch considered it terribly important that the job should be done. I therefore told the Dutchman that we would do it but that there would be no need to have the two brave men on the roof.
The job of planning and execution was given to the GCC. Denys Gillam’s Typhoon Wing 146 was selected. Tw o Typhoons circled the area to attract AA fire, flying just above effective light flak height. The target marking was spot on and the attack achieved the desired result. Much later in the war I heard that a Dutch telephone engineer had ‘jumped’a line in the Nijmegen exchange allowing communication from occupied Holland to the outside world. The line remained secret so far as I knew.
It was in early February whilst 84 Group HQ was still at Tilburg that I summoned up the courage to tell Teddy Huddleston, who had taken over from Bingo Brown as AOC in November, and Zulu Morris that I had been unhappy for some time with our GCC. It was responsible for the detailed planning of our operations and I was particularly unhappy with the methods used to make decisions about what force and which wing should be detailed for each operation. I thought that, for other than routine operations, the wings themselves should play a part in deciding on types of attack and the numbers and types of the aircraft needed. The outcome was my posting a month later to take over the GCC, and the posting of Denys Gillam to take my place as group captain ops in the group HQ –he was an excellent choice.
On 6th February I was invited to dinner by the CO of a Canadian Scottish regiment. Their mess was in woods just west of the Reich-swald Forest. My welcome by the officers, who were a merry bunch, particularly after the alcohol took effect, was most warm. At the end of the evening I was escorted back to my transport by the CO and his pipe major who piped me aboard.
Twenty-four hours later, on 8th February, the regiment was in the thick of the fighting, as the battle for the forest had begun. This long awaited offensive by the Canadian 1st Army and the British 2nd Army’s 30 Corps, known as Operation Veritable, was intended to clear enemy from the country between the Maas and the Rhine. It started after a night of intense bombing and one of the heaviest artillery bombardments of the war. Air support for the offensive was provided by nearly all the available resources of 83 and 84 Groups, together with the RAF light bombers of 2 Group and the 9th USAAF.4
8th February 1945
Have been unable to write to you for several days. By now you will have heard most probably the reason why. Things are progressing quite well at the moment. I hope we can carry on and knock the Huns for six. The planning for this has been going on for some time and we have been extremely busy. We’ve had numerous visitors including my old friend Tedder. He was on very good form.
During the first day of the battle twelve pre-arranged targets were attacked and a total of 520 sorties flown, nearly all in direct support of the army. Excellent initial progress was made through abominable terrain. In the following days the weather again turned against us and our air operations were reduced to a fraction of our total capacity. On 14th February when the weather improved the group flew nearly 750 sorties. A total of 180 tanks and MTs were destroyed or damaged.
17th February
The pipe arrived two or three days ago, since when any cigarette consumption has gone down by at least half. As you’ll notice I am still at group and likely to remain here for the next week or so. Did I tell you in my last letter that Mac’s successor is Zulu Morris – you’ll remember him – an admirable choice.
Pete, Hugo and I went to Brussels the day before yesterday and had quite a good party – including champagne and pâtéde foie gras.
25th February
I often wish I had my own unit. I probably convey that I’m a little depressed but it’s the reverse really. We’re doing quite well.
26th February
A busy and trying day in that the weather has been terrible – we had laid on such a comprehensive programme to help the army. Still they’re doing quite well.
Denys Gillam arrived today to take over but I shall have to stay here with him for another two or three days until he knows the ropes.
Last night I went down to the GCC for two or three hours to meet some of the chaps there. I believe I’m going to enjoy it. Nine months as a staff officer was long enough for me.
As far as leave is concerned it should be possible in about a month. Don’t worry darling I’ll do my damndest to get away as I could do with a clear seven days. It’s now well over three months and I want to see you and Elisabeth. She won’t remember me. Wish I was with you – by God this Hun takes some beating.
At the end of February, after one of the toughest slogging matches of the war, some fifteen German divisions, hammered by the British and Canadians from the north and the Americans in the south withdrew to the Rhine and into Germany. 84 Group supported the army as it worked slowly south by sending successive waves of Typhoons to batter enemy positions. Von Runstedt had no option but to withdraw the remnants of his force (he had been losing an average of 10,000 a day) across the Rhine. In the meantime, the Russian army was still pressing ahead westwards, it looked like disaster for the Germans.
8th-10th March
The fight still goes on – and the general feeling is that the Hun will be defeated within a matter of weeks. As soon as we can get across the Rhine in strength nothing can stop us. Let that time come soon.
Going to GCC in a few days. Had the most interesting time two days ago. Set foot in Germany for the first time. It gave me quite an amazing feeling of self-satisfaction. I spent the whole day going round army formations. The countryside was quite pretty although the towns and villages were heaps of ruins from the terrific shellfire. The only untouched or rather undamaged building I saw during the whole day was a church. The Rhine was in the distance. Won’t it be marvellous when we can wander at will (if we wanted to) through that foolish country? Won’t be long now. We’ve had a good day today, should have helped quite a lot in cutting down rockets on England.
On 12th March I finally took over the GCC which was still based at Turnhout. We soon moved to Hatert, a few miles south of Nijmegen, which was within shelling range of the German lines. The location of the GCC was dictated by the necessity to be able to maintain contact at all times with both the wings and the group HQ. It was a happy place. I had four very good wing commander planners including Peggy O’Neill (of Goodwood House and Red Hackle fame) and Al Deere. They readily accepted the new policy I introduced to devolve responsibility for the detailed planning of operations to the wings.
14th March
I’m now, as you’ve probably noticed, in my new job. I’ve been here for only two days and I feel better already. I’ve brought my batman A/C Ford along so that all my personal needs are well attended to. I think the main reason I feel so much better is that I am no longer tied to my office. If I want to go out I go out. Yesterday I flew forward to one of our units (I have my own Auster strip).
It was for my minor part in the liberation of the Netherlands that I was made a Commander of the Order of Orange Nassau by Queen Wilhelmina. The citation read:
‘For his excellent services from 20th April 1944 until 28th February 1945 conducting operations of number 84 Group RAF during the liberation of the Netherlands, showing initiative, courage and perseverance.’
THE BEGINNING OF THE END
MARCH 1945-MARCH 1946
On 9th March Monty issued orders for Operation Varsity, the crossing of the Rhine north of the Ruhr, with the longer term objective of isolating the Ruhr and moving on quickly into the northern plains of Germany. In the final line-up on the Rhine, the 9th US Army took up positions from Düsseldorf to Wesel, the British 2nd Army from Wesel to the Dutch frontier with the Canadian 1st Army covering the remaining ground to the North Sea.
During the three days before the Rhine crossing, sustained bombing attacks caused tremendous damage. RAF heavy bombers flew over 5,000 sorties, dropping nearly 25,000 tons of bombs, whilst the 8th and 9th USAAF, flying over 11,000 sorties, dropped over 24,000 tons. 83 and 84 Groups had also a pre-arranged programme of air operations in support of the assault crossings. These included the maintenance of air superiority, the neutralisation of flak, fighter protection for the airborne forces and close support to the assault and airborne troops.
20th March
Well darling I was all set to jump into an aeroplane to fly home this morning but the fates have destined otherwise. You will probably be able to sense whether I shall be able to get away by study of the news.
Had lunch with Tedder two days ago and yesterday I was visited by our service ‘father’ Lord Trenchard and later had dinner with him. He is an amazing man with the most active brain. We could do with some more like him. We’re remaining rather quiet at the moment although you have probably just heard of the activities by our Typhoons.
On the night of 23rd March, bridgeheads were made over the Rhine and, as I had missed viewing the great Armada on D-Day the previous June, I decided that I must see the crossing of the Rhine, led by the airborne forces, from the air. Accordingly, on the next morning I took off in our Auster with Al Deere as passenger, reaching the Rhine at about 9.45 a.m. Its width at this point varied from 400-500 yards and up to 1,200 yards at high water. We flew up and down at about 300 feet. Just before 1.00 a.m., in perfect weather we saw the aircraft of the first parachute serial arrive. They flew just over us.
For the next three hours wave after wave of aircraft came to the dropping and landing zones in a thrilling demonstration of air power. Dakotas carrying paratroops were followed by Halifaxes and more Dakotas towing troop-carrying Hadrian gliders. Over 1,500 aircraft and gliders delivered 14,000 troops to the battle area. The losses of only forty-six transport aircraft were much lighter than we had expected and were a testament to our total domination of the air and to the success of the anti-flak patrols by 84 Group Typhoons.
I shall never forget what a tremendous sight it was and thinking how marvellous that we had ‘got it together’ at last. I should have mentioned that the actual bridgeheads across the Rhine had been made during the previous night.
On returning to our Auster strip I remarked to Al, who had not flown an Auster before, that had we not used it we would never have seen that wonderful sight. I suggested he should go solo on one. He readily agreed, making his first flight that afternoon. Unfortunately, whilst making his approach to land he hit a high hedge damaging the aircraft rather badly. In the accident report, later published in RAF News, I attached no blame to the pilot, but said the blame lay on the Ministry of Aviation for allowing an aircraft with such a muddled control system to enter service! The throttle, a pull and push affair, worked in a reverse manner to those of all other aircraft.
Al Deere was in good company as some of the best-known fighter aces would not fly the Auster; Sailor Malan, Bill Compton, and Desmond Scott had all also crashed them on their first attempt. Des Scott, a most competent New Zealander, was famous in RAF circles as, within two years and five months, he had been promoted from sergeant to group captain.
Following the crossing of the Rhine, the British forces drove north of the Rhine towards the north German plain threatening to trap the enemy forces in Holland. In early April, the Canadian 1st Army pushed north-west towards the Zuiderzee while the British 2nd Army drove north towards the Baltic.
By mid-April our fighter wings, which had continued to give direct and indirect support to the 21st Army Group forces by attacking the enemy’s retreating columns, were operating from the superb permanent airfields in the Rhine area, and the GCC moved to Brogbern close to Lingen, its last location in the war.
21st April
Time has flown the last few days and darling no letters have been written. We have been working hard. I thought it would be strange having a site well inside Germany, but everything is, superficially at any rate, peaceful and we have a lovely site in the country.
I was out most of yesterday looking to the future; found a place and told the locals to build an Auster strip for me within two days. They actually like being ordered about and the jobs will be done. Eggs are plentiful. I have a feeling that I might be able to get away for a few days before you get this letter. It depends upon the AOC.
My batman Ford is priceless. All through the moves he has arranged things perfectly. I’ll try and keep him after the war, he cooks my breakfast, provides my coffee at 11.00 if I’m in and produces afternoon tea.
For the next few weeks the destruction of enemy road and rail traffic went on and the most important enemy airfields were battered by our newly arrived squadrons of Tempests. In early May, the Typhoon wing crowned a long list of spectacular achievements with strikes on enemy shipping trying to escape to Norway from Kiel and Lübeck, sinking ninety-six ships.
For the record it should be noted that from 17th April to 6th May 84 Group flew 4,672 sorties, 1,674 on close support and army targets. During this period our squadrons destroyed and damaged 1,097 MT, and tanks, 221 enemy aircraft in the air, and on the ground and 898 railway engines.
From 12th August 1944 when 84 Group arrived in France its squadrons flew 69,294 sorties – over 270 per day. During this time it destroyed 9,398 enemy tanks and MT and 439 enemy aircraft while losing 479 of its own aircraft and 371 pilots.
On the ground progress was swift. By 17th April General Patton was in Czechoslovakia and the Ruhr was passed through. On 22nd April the Russians started their assault on Berlin and it looked as though the war in Italy would soon be over. Nine days later the Americans and Russians had linked up. The 21st Army Group had reached the Baltic and North West Germany, and Holland and Denmark surrendered. On 4th May Montgomery accepted and signed the ‘Instruments of Surrender’ at Luneburg Heath.
After six years of war, which in my case had included three years outside the UK, the fighting in Europe had come to an end. It had been a long time.
A few days previously I had been back on leave in England with Het. When it became obvious that the war would soon end, I decided that I must get back to the GCC straight away. I was trying to summon up the courage to tell Het when she forestalled me by saying, “I know you’re dying to get back to your chaps, I think you should go.” I left that afternoon. I felt that Germany was where I should be celebrating the signing of the peace treaty. After my personal effort over the previous five-and-a-half years I thought that I had earned the ultimate in celebrations. This could only be by celebrating victory in Germany with those magnificent men in their flying machines.
I was delighted that I managed to arrive back in time to celebrate VE day with my chaps at the GCC. I cannot quite remember what we did, but I know I spent the next few days with Teddy Huddleston visiting the three 84 Group airfields in an ambulance. We were driven round to the different messes on each airfield where we celebrated with the men. In each mess, no matter what the time was, we drew the curtains and ‘declared a guest night’. I think the party lasted for about three days.
10th May
We have had one or two good parties over here but in the main it has been moderate celebrations. We gave the troops a good party on Wednesday night. It’s awfully strange coming back to a peacetime basis especially with so many bodies: four wing commanders, lots of squadron leaders – I’m racking my brains to make work for them to do.
I’m going to Winschoten, Groningen and to the North Sea coast today to see some of our units. It means staying away the night.
A few days later I moved the GCC close to Dudeldorf, an airfield east of Celle and within a few miles of what eventually was to be called the ‘Iron Curtain’. My old friend from flying training and Tangmere days, Johnnie Walker, was commanding a Spitfire wing on the airfield. We celebrated well and often. We made the most of the services of local people. When I needed a haircut the local barber would arrive posthaste and the local farmers would meet our requirements for eggs, pork, chickens and such like. It was a case of ‘to the victor belongs the spoils’. But we did no looting. In general, we behaved well towards the local population; we paid them in cigarettes. The fact that they were so subservient however did not impress me.
21st May
Sweetheart, I’ve managed to get a Spitfire again, that coupled with Denys Gillam’s marriage means that you can go ahead and book a room in London for 8th and 9th June. I’m afraid you’ve received very few letters in the past fortnight. The reason is that I’ve been doing so much travelling to the various attached units – in the north of Holland, and then far east into Germany. Last week I was staying in Wildeshausen and visited Bremen and Hamburg. It’s a terrific eye opener darling. The damage is so fantastic that it is quite incomparable with anything we have seen in England.
I heard yesterday that I might have to write an official history of the campaign. What a book it would be.
In late May Al Deere, Peggy O’Neill and I went on a two-day trip to Amsterdam taking our drinks and food. While there we gave a party for some locals at which we gave them bully beef sandwiches. As I said in my letter to Het, ‘The joy they caused was terrific as it was the first time for months they had tasted white bread’.
In early June I returned to London for forty-eight hours with Zulu Morris where I met Het, stayed at the Savoy, and attended Denys Gillam’s wedding.
20th June
My Spitfire has arrived and I’m getting back into trim. Should be all set to take me to England pretty soon. I’ve been working on the AOC for the last few days and I’m pretty certain that I shall get at least a fortnight’s leave probably beginning of next month.
Work here at the moment is far more tiresome than in wartime.
27th June
Had quite a good party for the C-in-C last night. It was held in the open – good food, drinks, band, lots of guests. Mary Coningham made a magnificent speech. He mentioned four names: his own SASO and AOA. Then came on to 84 Group, mentioning his long and happy association with Teddy Huddleston whom he first met at Cranwell etc and then came on to speak of Rosie, of mobile warfare fame, who blazed his way through Africa, complete with fiddle and has never looked back. I thought it was rather nice – and so did lots of other people.
In late June I managed to get a week of leave in Wrexham returning to Germany from Lasham.
In early July I flew up to Denmark and on my return wrote to Het on paper taken from the Hotel Terminus in Copenhagen.
This paper is typical of the place. No suffering, plenty of food (I’m enclosing the “Bill of Fare” from a place where we had lunch). It seems rather strange that Holland, Belgium, France should have suffered whereas this country appears quite normal. Makes one quite cynical.
25th July
As I anticipated I am being posted to group from the 31st to do group captain ops. Apparently TAF or BAFO as it is now called wanted me but the AOC pressed for me to stay.
Denys Gillam has just given me the most marvellous photograph of Zulu, his wife, Al Deere and Joan and ourselves taken outside the church.
Peggy O’Neill is posted as wing commander flying at North Weald with Bader as his sector commander.
Ford’s release group has just come up but he doesn’t want to return to civil life yet. Wanted to stay with me. I dissuaded him from staying in for a further twelve months so he has asked for a six months postponement of release. I hope it is granted so that he can continue.
At the end of July I was posted back to 84 Group HQ at Celle to take over from Denys Gillam, once again as group captain ops. The SASO, Zulu Morris, remained a close friend. We played tennis, and went hunting and gliding in our free time.
Our HQ was in a large cavalry barracks just north of Celle which, for obvious reasons we renamed Trenchard Barracks – the name which the now British Army barracks retains today. Although Celle was an attractive town undamaged by war, when I first arrived our officer’s mess was in a large tent in a nearby field.
When it became clear that the group HQ would stay in Celle for some time, Teddy Huddleston, the AOC, and his AOA Bill MacDonald, did their best to ensure that the personnel lived in reasonable comfort and that provision was made for them to enjoy their time off duty.
In August we moved our HQ ‘A’ mess into a house in Celle with grounds sloping down to the river. Food was good and I still maintain that the smoked eels from Steinhuder Meer near Wunstorf airfield were the finest I ever tasted. Wine and spirits were no problem to obtain. In Celle itself the officers’ club was well stocked and well patronised whilst the orchestral concerts at the Schloss were of a very high standard.
7th August
I wish you could have been here this weekend. If you had been it would have been the perfect holiday! On Saturday I managed to buy a racquet (Dunlop Max-ply) from welfare and so after bathing on Saturday afternoon I went up to the country club with Zulu where we played tennis (I beat him), had a magnificent dinner, played skittles and then drank. On Sunday we had a repeat performance and stayed the night at the club. On Monday morning we went out riding for two hours, bathed in the afternoon and then returned here to have dinner with the inspector general.
And what of the atomic bomb? The possibilities are immense. What a world.
15th August
The war’s over [Japan had surrendered]. Strangely enough I have a feeling of contentment but not of elation.
What I really wanted to do was to jump into a Spit and fly home and spend a few hours with you. The AOC said I could go providing I could guarantee getting back tomorrow in time for a visit by the C-in-C. I was annoyed when I saw the Met forecasts. I had to cancel it.
Last Sunday I went gliding with Zulu. We each flew three times and I was thrilled. It gives one a marvellous feeling of freedom. I shall not be happy until I can soar and stay up for the odd hour or two.
Tomorrow we move out of our tents and start living in complete luxury in one of the best equipped and furnished houses I’ve ever known. The house is in Celle and it has lawns stretching down to the river about 200 yards away.
Well Sweet, the war is over. Knowing what weapons [the atom bomb] will be available in future I can’t say that I am terrifically enthusiastic in doing my normal day’s work. What I want is to lead a family life. Soon.
1st September
I’ve been scouting round this week in search of the odd present. I’ve managed to get a little silk, a black suede handbag, some scent and possibly next week a pair or two of silk stockings. What a fortunate woman you’ll be.
We are putting on a display at The Hague on 15th and I’ve been put in charge of it. I hope the weather keeps fine so that we can really get down to practising. The show is going to be on the lines of the old Hendon Air Display.
Zulu and I went to a party at 145 Wing last Thursday night – Loel Guinness is just being released. We got to bed very late.
Next week is being known as ‘Celle’week. Various entertainments have been organised – sports, cricket, various shows etc. It should be quite successful.
We’ll lead a family life fairly soon – Elisabeth as well, even if it means going to staff college.
Whilst in Celle we sometimes visited the nearest Malcolm Club at Hanover from where, on one occasion, we took the club head and deputy on a day trip to Berlin. Driving fast along the autobahn in a black Mercedes coupé, which had been acquired from a wealthy German, we soon arrived at the outskirts of Berlin. There we stopped to ask for directions from a woman, who immediately ran away, having taken us for Russians. We then spent a long time looking around, driving down streets cleared of rubble and noting the devastation everywhere. We soon tired of this, and found our way to the officers’ club which was full of Americans, Russians and others of our allies.
After a few drinks Zulu and I decided to do what we called the ‘The Volga Boat Man’. With shirts outside trousers and ties as belts we could have been taken as Russians by a very drunken man. We then proceeded to circle the room treading on furniture and without touching the floor whilst singing the song. Not surprisingly, we were soon joined by others thinking it was fun. After a few circuits we noticed a group of Russians who were definitely not amused. At that point we thought it wise to leave and find our way back.
Coming across an autobahn, assuming it was the right one, we set out on our way. Suddenly, we saw that the road ahead appeared to be barred by a mass of Russian transport. Somewhat perturbed –in fact, jolly frightened –we managed to turn around without any reaction from the Russians. This quickly sobered us up. Returning to Berlin, we were able to find the right autobahn for Hanover and the welcome of the Malcolm Club. It had been quite a day!
When Zulu left the group in the autumn on posting back to the UK, I took his place as SASO. In that job I remained a group captain but had it been a littler earlier I might have been made an air commodore.
One evening that autumn, during a drinks party the C-in-C, Mary Coningham, told me of his concern for the future of the RAF. The drift of it was that we had taken chaps, many of them straight from school, taught them to fly and ordered them to go out and ‘break windows’. They had been thought of as heroes by their ground crews. Now they had finished their ‘window bashing’, they had little to do and most of them wanted to return home. As for the ground crews, they also had little work to do. They no longer had their flying heroes to worship and no longer did they have that incentive to do their best to win the war. They too wanted to return home. Mary went on to say that this was a recipe for trouble and it wouldn’t surprise him if loyalty and discipline were affected. “Everything should be done to try to avoid such a state,”he said.
Fortunately, although there were occasional rumbles of discontent, 84 Group was not affected but we heard of many cases of indiscipline, even mutiny, in other parts of the RAF.
During our time in Celle I got to know Teddy Huddleston well. We took every opportunity to visit the wings and squadrons and often dined with them. That winter, we occasionally drove to the Harz Mountains for some skiing, staying at the 84 Group Rest Centre in Bad Harzburg and we went gliding at the club we had taken over from the Germans at Salzgitter.
14th January 1946
On Saturday we went along to Broady’s place. He has a magnificent mess. I was greeted with black velvet and oysters and afterwards we went along to their officers’ club. It’s run perfectly. Saw Bitmead there, Pat Jameson, Ta p Jones etc. Bitmead (ex 43 Squadron) has just been posted into the group after returning from India. He was on very good form.
It’s quite good fun in our new mess. The AOC and AOA are quite young – thirty-six – and the AOC particularly has a very good brain and a very fine sense of humour. Actually, I’m getting a little fed up with this job. I’ve had it now for about eight months, I’d like my own command again.
It was during this time at Celle that on 25th January 1946 I was ‘Mentioned in Despatches for distinguished service’. I was also told that my next posting was to be to the RAF Staff College at Bracknell.
18th February 1946
Joe Holmes came in to see me this morning. Told me he’d just received a rocket from his wife for having wished her a happy birthday on entirely the wrong date. With a start I realised that I too had committed the unpardonable crime of forgetting your birthday. I humbly apologise sweetheart and promise to make up for it.
I’m anxiously awaiting word from you about accommodation. I’ll be overjoyed if you have managed to get something. It’s time we started living together. I long for it. If you haven’t had any joy we’ll try together when I arrive home.
I should arrive home on 4th or 5th March which should give us a full month’s holiday before the course starts.
The author skiing in the Harz Mountains, January 1946.
Went skiing yesterday and even though there was a blizzard most of the time, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Noel Smith and I did about eight miles cross-country before lunch. It’s so enjoyable that I’m bringing a pair of skis home for you.
Darling, I do hope you have succeeded in this house hunting game. If not, will you put an advert in the local papers? Only fourteen days to go. Give Lis a big kiss for me.
23rd February
I think that I shall remain in the UK after staff college – probably at Air Ministry. The chaps due for overseas service are going to Haifa. Therefore, it’s a good gamble to think of a car as a long-term measure.
AOC and I are going skiing this afternoon. Farewell party for us at Hildesheim tonight. There’s a farewell party for us on every single evening next week. The whole thing seems fraught with danger!
The Air Staff have just given me an electric train for Elisabeth. She’s a bit young for it yet but I’ll enjoy it.
In early March the time came to say goodbye to Germany. By a happy coincidence Teddy Huddleston was posted at the same time so we travelled back to England together. As the weather was unfit for flying we took the ‘services special train’, drank a bottle of Teddy’s champagne and eventually arrived at Dover delighted to be home at last. We then went our separate ways – mine led to Bracknell to begin the staff college course. Where, having been a group captain since 1943, I arrived as a wing commander.